High Flight

Music by Bryan KesselmanWords by John Gillespie Magee, Jnr.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of EarthAnd danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirthOf sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred thingsYou have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swungHigh in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flungMy eager craft through footless halls of air . . .Up, up the long, delirious burning blueI’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy graceWhere never lark, or ever eagle flew --And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trodThe high untrespassed sanctity of space,Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Important note on High FlightThe words, ‘Where never lark, or ever eagle flew’ are as written by Magee. Several versions of this line exist on-line and in print, but this text has been confirmed by the Manuscript Department of the Library of Congress (USA) who hold the original manuscript.